UN urges restraint as violent clashes in Côte d’Ivoire escalate

[News_Editor]

UN urges restraint as violent clashes in Côte d’Ivoire escalate

2010-12-17 21:38:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE (BNO NEWS) -- The UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire has called for all parties to show restraint and to remain calm amidst reports of violent clashes, which have now reached the perimeters of the U.S. Embassy in the African country.

Côte d’Ivoire has been thrust into political uncertainty after the incumbent president refused to concede electoral defeat recently. The UN, however, has endorsed the victory of opposition leader and President-elect Alassane Ouattara, despite outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo's claim to have won.

Known by the acronym UNOCI, the UN mission reports that heavy fighting broke out on Thursday between elements of the Forces Nouvelles and the Forces de défense et de sécurité, which have reinforced their checkpoints on the main passages to the Golf Hotel in Abidjan where President-elect Ouattara has been based since the November 28 run-off presidential elections.

Further, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the perimeter of the American embassy in Cote d' Ivoire was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on Thursday. Even though it only inflicted slight damage and no injuries, the department later authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel and all eligible family members of U.S. Embassy personnel. 

Meanwhile, the UN mission has established contact with both sides in order to try and stop the fighting but also deployed some 800 military and police personnel and eight armored personnel carriers to provide security for the Golf Hotel.

Military support for the hotel has been issued together with the Forces Nouvelles and the Licorne troops which have been provided by France in aid of UNOCI.

An additional UN-formed police unit is being deployed from the city of Bouaké and, as a precautionary measure, UNOCI has also pre-positioned potable water, bulk water tanks, generators and fuel in the Golf Hotel should any of these services be disrupted.

UNOCI has reiterated that violence is not the way to resolve the political stalemate and that the parties involved should refrain from acts that could jeopardize the numerous efforts being made to allow the will of the Ivorian people, as expressed on November 28, to prevail.

In a statement by his spokesperson on Wednesday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all the Ivorian parties and their supporters to exercise patience and refrain from any actions that could, accidentally or deliberately, provoke violence.

Ban also stressed that, in the currently charged political environment, such actions could have unpredictable consequences, including igniting a civil war.

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